Arrow release for bows in archery



Nov. 28, 1961 A. A. FRANTELLO 3,010,446

ARROW RELEASE FOR BOWS IN ARCHERY Filed Jan. 21, 1958 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,010,446 ARROW RELEASE FOR BOWS IN ARCHERY Alfio A. Frantello, Wadsworth, N.Y., assignor of one-half to Our Lady of the Genesee Abbey, Pilford, N.Y., a monastery, one-eighth to Donald Frantello, one-eighth to Donna Frantello, and one-eighth to Karen Frantello, all of Wadsworth, N.Y., and one-eighth to Dolores Frantello Sanerbier, Danville, N.Y.

Filed Jan. 21, 1958, Ser. No. 710,293

1 Claim. (Cl. 124-30) This invention relates generally to archery, and particularly to means for connecting the arrow butt to the string.

The practice of archery, whether in target contests or in game hunting, involves the employment of the fingers of one hand in holding the neck of the arrow in proper engagement with the string as Well as simultaneously applying drawing pressure upon the string to bring about proper tensioning of the latter. In liberating the arrow to flight, it is essential that the fingers release the arrow and string simultaneously, otherwise the arrow will not follow a true course. Experts in archery have become proficient in this simultaneous release only after long and patient practice, but it is particularly difficult for novices or beginners to master this act while at the same time maintaining proper arrow aim, with the result that poor marksmanship in such efforts brings about discouragement and ultimate abandonment of the sport.

The primary object of the invention is to provide means whereby the string and arrow are held together automatically during the draw, and both simultaneously released at the will of the archer without the necessity of the fingers engaging either the arrow or the string, thus overcoming the objection heretofore mentioned and insuring flight of the arrow in the course sighted.

A further object of the invention is to provide means of simple construction attached to the string for frictional engagement with the arrow having a specially constructed head for holding these elements together when the draw is performed, but which brings about release of both of these elements simultaneously when the string is released and reaches its relaxed position.

A further object is to provide means attached to the string to be engaged by the fingers to tension the latter, and which is equipped with means for retracting the arrow during the string tensioning operation or draw.

A further object is to provide means associated with the string whereby to eliminate the usual whipping of the string when the latter is released from its tensioned position.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawing, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of portions of a conventional bow and bow string in tensioned position and showing as applied thereto a structure made in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevational view with parts broken away to show the manner of connecting the tail end of the arrow to the holding knob,

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 and showing a slight modification of the invention, and

FIG. 4 is another view similar to FIG. 2 and disclosing a further modification.

In the drawing, the bow is of conventional form and is represented at 5 and the string therefor is indicated 3,010,446 Patented Nov. 28, 1961 at 6, the arrow being represented at 7, and is equipped near its tail end with the usual guide fins or feathers 8.

The tail end of the arrow is provided with an enlargement, preferably of substantially spherical shape in the preferred embodiment of the invention and indicated at 9; this enlargement being made of any desired material such as wood, plastic or metal. The enlargement may be made as a part of the arrow or may be securely attached thereto by any desired means. However, it is essential that the enlargement be attached to the butt end of the arrow so as to become a permanent part thereof.

The string 6 has attached thereto a knob 10 whose body is so formed as to 'aiford easy and comfortable grip by the first and second fingers of the hand as illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawing. The outer end of this knob is provided with a socket indicated at 11 of such size and configuration as to frictionally engage the ball or enlargement 9 at the butt end of the arrow and to maintain a frictional connection between the two elements as will be understood. The knob may be formed of wood, rubber, metal or plastic material, and in instances where made of plastic or rubber, the socket will be of slightly reduced diameter from that of the ball so that substantially tight frictional engagement will obtain between the walls of the socket and the outer surface of the ball or enlargement when these two elements are pressed together. The knob element is provided with a transverse opening indicated at 12 through which the bow string 6 passes, and any suitable means may be employed for holding the knob against sliding movement upon the string; knots 13 in the string being employed by way of illustration.

In those instances where the knob is formed of plastic material or of rubber, it is obvious that the dimension of the socket 11 may be such as to bring about a relatively tight interfitting engagement between the ball or enlargement 9 and the socket 1'1 sufficiently tight to cause these elements to move as a unit when retracting movement is applied to the knob in tensioning the string 6. However, this connection must be such as to bring about an automatic release of the arrow ball or enlargement 9 from the socket 11 when the string '6 has been released and moves to relaxed position toward the how 5. In those instances where the knob is of material such as wood or metal, the surfaces of the enlargement or ball 9 and the socket 11 may be so treated as to bring about sufficient frictional contact between these elements to produce the frictional connecting engagement above described.

FIG. 3 illustrates a slight modification of the invention, wherein the arrow 7 is provided at its rear end with a cap 14, formed either of metal, wood, rubber or plastic having at its rear end spaced jaws 15 to receive a wedge point 16 at the forward end of the knob 17 with which it is integral. In this instance, the knob element is provided inwardly of its ends with an opening 18 through which the bow string 6 passes. The jaws 15 may possess sufiicient inherent flexibility to cause a substantially tight frictional contact between the cap 14 and the wedge 16 of the knob, but if desired, either the surfaces of the knob, the inner faces of the jaws 15, or both, may be serrated or roughened as shown at 19 to enhance the frictional contact between the jaws and the Wedge.

In FIG. 4 of the drawings, a further modification is disclosed, wherein the butt of the arrow 7 is provided with a small magnet 19' while the forward end of the knob 20 is provided with a magnet 21 of opposite polarity; whereby frictional engagement between the arrow butt and the operating knob is produced by magnetism.

The above described structures illustrate only prev 3 ferred means of bringing about a breakable connection between the tail of the arrow and the operatingknob and it will be understood that various deviations from the structures here illustrated and described may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In operation, the bow is manipulated in the usual well known manner. The arrow has its. butt end applied to the forward end of the knob and frictionally engages therewith, the friction being suflicient to establish a breakable connection between these elements when the knob is retracted to tension the string. It will be observed that with this invention the hand used in bringing about the tensioning of the string 6 does not come in contact with the string .as the tensioning action is brought about entirely through retraction of theknob. With the bow tensioned "as shown in FIG. 1, the operator takes sight and then releases the knob, whereupon the arrow is forced forwardly; the force of which causes releasing action between the butt of the arrow and the forward end of the knob when the string has reached relaxed position. The several forms of the invention here illustrated and described are capable of carrying out this result most satisfactorily, and it is apparent that with the use of this connecting and tensioning means involving the several forms of the invention, the archer may confine his attention to properly aiming the arrow and with assurance of more satisfactory results than can be accomplished by the methods heretofore practiced.

I claim:

In an archers bow, an elongated knob member formed of yieldable, elastic material and having an opening passing laterally therethrough at a pointspaced inwardly from the forward end thereof to receive the string of the bow, the forward face of said knob member being flat and of reduced diameter'and having a relatively deep substantially berm-spherical socket therein, the rear portion of said knob member being enlarged transversely to provide a finger grip rearwardly of the bow string, an arrow having a substantially spherical-shaped member rigidly secured to its rear end and of a diameter in excess of the'diameter of said socket frictionally held within said socket and engaged throughout its circumference with the yieldable walls of said socket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Halverson Mar. 10, 1959 

